MALT lymphoma originating in breast and uvula

Lymphoma of the Uvula: Clinical, Morphological, Histopathological, and Genetic Characterization. A Nationwide Danish Study From 1980 to 2019

Background: In the head and neck region the uvula is a rare site for extranodal lymphomas to develop. In this national study, we present six cases and provide an overview of the current literature, characterizing the clinical and histopathological features of lymphomas involving this location.

Materials and Methods: Clinical information was obtained retrospectively from patient records in a nationwide Danish study covering from 1980 through 2019. In order to validate the diagnoses, uvular tissue specimens were examined histologically and immunohistochemically and if relevant for subtyping, cytogenetic rearrangements were investigated.

Results: We present six cases of lymphomas involving the uvula, of which four of the cases were diagnosed with a B-cell lymphoma (two diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, one extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma and one Mantle cell lymphoma), while two were diagnosed with a T-cell lymphoma (one peripheral T-cell lymphoma and one natural killer/T-cell lymphoma). Presenting symptoms included swelling, pain and ulceration of the uvula. Treatment was comprised of radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, with T-cell lymphomas showing a poorer outcome than B-cell lymphomas.

Conclusion: Lymphoma of the uvula is rare, with few case reports being reported in the literature. The most frequent histological subtypes reported are extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma. When encountering a swollen, painful and/or ulcerated uvula, the clinician should always consider malignancy as a possible cause. Lymphoma of the uvula is a possible diagnosis and if this is the case, there is a high risk of disseminated disease at the time of diagnosis.

Low-grade B-cell lymphoma presenting as a uvular mass

Uvular enlargement may occur acutely as a result of infection, allergy, or trauma. Squamous cell carcinoma may present as a progressively enlarging uvular mass. Primary MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma of the uvula and a neuroendocrine tumor of the parapharyngeal space presenting as a uvular mass have each been previously described in the literature. Here we present a case of low-grade B-cell lymphoma presenting as a uvular mass in a 55-year-old patient with progressive throat swelling and dysphagia.

Management of hematological malignancies during pregnancy

The management of hematological malignancies during pregnancy is a challenging endeavor, which not only requires technical skills and knowledge by the clinicians but also requires sound clinical judgment and compassion, keeping in mind the patient and family preferences and, ultimately, the wellbeing of the neonate. The incidence of hematological malignancies during pregnancy is rare, ranging from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 10,000 deliveries, impeding the design and execution of large prospective studies. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the limited existing data and make useful suggestions in the management of acute and chronic leukemias, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, plasma cell myeloma, and other hematological malignancies, such as myelodysplastic syndromes and hairy cell leukemia, during pregnancy.

Primary Breast mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (malt) lymphoma with high-grade transformation evidenced by prominent lymphoepithelial lesions

Primary breast lymphoma, particularly primary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, is a rare disease. We report here a case of a MALT lymphoma of the breast with high-grade transformation. An 84-year-old woman presented with a Pagetoid mass in her right breast. After a clinical diagnosis of breast cancer, T2N1M0, stage II B, she underwent mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection. She had no history of autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto thyroiditis or Sjögren disease. Pathologically the tumor tissue was composed of small to large lymphoid cells. The large cells contained a considerable number of centroblasts, forming a sheet-like proliferation centrally. Among the small cells many small cleaved cells were present, which were more predominant in the peripheral areas. Immunohistochemistry revealed that these cells were positive for CD20 and CD79a. The tumor cells infiltrated the ductular epithelial cells, distorting the duct structures, to form lymphoepithelial lesions. Immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin and CD20 was helpful for identification. No germinal centers were formed. MALT lymphoma with high-grade transformation was diagnosed. Rituximab (anti-CD20 antibody) was prescribed as systemic treatment without chemotherapy or irradiation. After 18 months, no tumor recurrence was observed. We emphasize the importance of lymphoepithelial lesions for the diagnosis of MALT lymphoma of the breast.

Low grade marginal zone B cell lymphoma of the breast associated with localised amyloidosis and corpora amylacea in a woman with long standing primary Sjögren's syndrome

Primary low grade marginal zone B cell lymphoma (MZL) of the breast and localised mammary amyloidosis are exceedingly rare entities. This report describes the case of a woman with long standing Sjögren's syndrome presenting with asymptomatic MZL of the breast showing plasmacytic differentiation, associated with local ductular amyloidosis. The lesion was discovered incidentally in breast tissue resected for microcalcifications. Immunohistochemistry revealed kappa light chain restriction, supporting the neoplastic nature of the infiltrate. A retrospective molecular study of the salivary gland biopsy showed a B cell clone. This is the first report of the association of human mammary ductular amyloidosis with cartwheel shaped material identical to corpora amylacea, usually seen in brain, lung, and prostate, but unknown in the human breast. The excellent outcome without treatment seen in this patient further emphasises the need to distinguish between MZL with plasmacytic differentiation and extramedullary plasmacytoma.